Fueled
by corporate donations, ALEC is credited with working quietly behind
the scenes to draft legislation that can then be introduced by
elected state lawmakers. Among its efforts, ALEC spearheaded the push
in Ohio, Wisconsin and elsewhere to introduce bills that limited or
abolished collective bargaining rights for public-sector labor
unions.

The
membership list that contains the names of the roughly 2,000 state
legislators and about 300 private-sector supporters who belong to
ALEC is kept confidential.

State
Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Green Township), who sits on ALEC's board of
directors, noted in the CityBeat article that the identity of its
sponsors aren't kept secret. They include the American Petroleum
Institute, R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco Co., Coors and the National Rifle Association.

Now
with the help of Aliya Rahman,
an activist based at Miami University in Oxford who organized the
Cincinnati protest, The
Nation
magazine has obtained more than 800 documents representing decades of
ALEC's model legislation. The treasure trove of materials is featured in The
Nation's Aug. 1-8 issue, which currently is on sale.

[UPDATE: Read more about Rahman's path to unearthing the documents here.]

In conjunction with the Center for Media and Democracy, The Nation asked policy experts to analyze this never-before-seen archive.

As
The
Nation's
John Nichols writes, “Inspired by Milton Friedman’s call for
conservatives to 'develop alternatives to existing policies (and)
keep them alive and available,' ALEC’s model legislation reflects
long-term goals: downsizing government, removing regulations on
corporations and making it harder to hold the economically and
politically powerful to account. Corporate donors retain veto power
over the language, which is developed by the secretive task forces.”

In an effort to promote greater transparency about who makes campaign contributions, outgoing Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner today unveiled a new set of election rules.

The rules, which were approved by the Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, is aimed at offsetting some of the impact of the Citizens United ruling issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in January. In the landmark 5-4 decision, the court overturned a lower court’s ruling and removed existing restraints on corporations, allowing them to spend unlimited amounts of money in political campaigns.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco sheds his clothes in a new print advertisement for an animal rights group.

Never one known to be shy or retiring, Ochocinco appears naked and holding a football in front of his genitalia in the ad for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Referring to the many tattoos visible on his muscular frame, the ad's tagline is, “Ink, Not Mink.”

As part of its slate of endorsements announced today, the Cincinnati U.S.A. Regional Chamber of Commerce stated it's opposed to Issue 48, the proposed charter amendment that would block construction of Cincinnati's planned streetcar system.

Western & Southern, American Financial Group lag behind national progress

LGBT rights are becoming “the new normal” in corporate
America, but American Financial Group and Western & Southern Financial Group are
apparently exceptions. Both Cincinnati-based Fortune 500 companies
received a 0 percent for LGBT policies in the 2012 Corporate Equality
Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

In the Greater Cincinnati area, Cincinnati-based Omnicare,
Covington-based Ashland and Highland Heights-based General Cable fared
only slightly better than American Financial and Western & Southern. The three companies received 15 points for at
least including sexual orientation in non-discrimination policies.

Other Cincinnati-based Fortune 500 companies did much
better in HRC’s rankings. Procter & Gamble got a 90 percent, Macy’s
got a 90 percent, Kroger got an 85 percent and Fifth Third Bank got an
85 percent. The high scores show some companies are providing more to LGBT individuals than local, state and federal governments through equal access to health care and other benefits that aren't written into law.

On a national level, the five low-scoring Fortune 500 companies in Greater Cincinnati show a surprising level of backwardness. In general, the nationwide rankings were very positive
this year. In an emailed statement, HRC pointed out 252 companies got
100-percent scores in 2012, up from 13 companies in 1991. As HRC put it,
“For American companies, 100 percent is the new normal.”

CityBeat could not reach Western & Southern or
American Financial Group for immediate comment. This story will be
updated if comments become available.

Amid a growing public outcry, Kroger has joined the list of grocery store chains that will stop using so-called “pink slime” in their ground beef. The Cincinnati-based grocer announced Thursday it will no longer sell beef with the additive. Ever since ABC News did a report a few weeks ago on the meat filler, many consumers have pushed to have it either eliminated or clearly identified on packages. The product contains “finely textured lean beef,” the product made from beef trimmings after all the choice cuts of beef are removed, which is then treated with ammonia. Just eat more chicken.

The police chief of Wilder, Ky., entered a not guilty plea Thursday to a drunken driving charge. Alexandria Police arrested Wilder Police Chief Anthony Rouse on March 1 for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. During the court hearing, a prosecutor said Rouse violated the conditions of a pre-trial release from jail by allegedly driving a vehicle after drinking in a bar. Rouse said he was unaware of the conditions surrounding his pre-trial release. Chief, call a cab next time.

A team of doctors from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is partnering with a hospital in Ghana to complete more than 30 advanced surgeries there during a week-long mission trip. The team's focus will be on pediatric colorectal and gynecological conditions, specialties not widely practiced in Africa.

About 128,000 Ohio workers hold jobs related to the production of “green” goods and services, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s first-ever green jobs report. Those workers represent 2.6 percent of total employment in the Buckeye State and are spread across various industries, based on a 2010 survey. Critics, however, say tax incentives create an artificial demand for such jobs.

Ohio leads the nation in property insurance claims for the theft of copper and other metals, according to an organization that fights insurance fraud. The National Insurance Crime Bureau says Ohio property owners made 2,398 such claims during the three-year period from 2009-11. Texas ranked second, followed by Georgia, California and Illinois.

Covington officials are upset about a rowdy St. Patrick's Day crowd in MainStrasse last weekend that resulted in a serious assault, unruly behavior and piles of trash left for residents to pick up. The owners of Cock and Bull English Pub and Pachinko's were apologetic Thursday after their advertised St. Patrick's Day parties drew a larger than expected crowd, which they blamed on the holiday falling on a Saturday this year and the unseasonably warm weather.

In news elsewhere, civil liberties advocates are concerned by new rules approved by the Obama administration that allow counterterrorism officials to lengthen the period of time they retain information about U.S. residents, even if they have no known connection to terrorism. The changes allow the National Counterterrorism Center to keep information for up to five years. Previously, the center was required to promptly destroy, usually within 180 days, any information about U.S. citizens unless a connection to terrorism was evident.

A U.S. soldier who allegedly shot and killed civilians in Afghanistan reportedly will be charged with 17 counts of murder. Robert Bales, an army staff sergeant and Norwood native, also faces six counts of attempted murder and six counts of aggravated assault, an official told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Bales, 38, is suspected of leaving a military base in Kabul, entering homes and shooting villagers, including nine children, in their sleep on March 11.

A teenager in Minnesota is being prevented from bringing a porn actress to his high school prom. Mike Stone, 18, tweeted various actresses in the porn industry, seeking one to go to the prom in St. Paul. Megan Piper – star of films like “Tugged by an Angel” and “Squirting 2” – said on her Twitter account that she would go if Stone paid for her transportation from California. Once school officials learned of the plan from another parent on an Internet message board, however, they put a stop to it. They said her visit would violate a school policy that states visitors are allowed unless "the visit is not in the best interest of students, employees or the school district." Hate the game, don't hate the player.

Census officials soon will allow first-time, instant public access to records that provide a snapshot of Americans at the end of the Great Depression and on the verge of World War II. Beginning April 2, the 1940 Census will be available online for free. The records document details of 132 million people, including 21 million who are still alive today, and what their lives were like. The project is expected to be a boon for history buffs and researchers.

Waterpark failed to submit refunds after abruptly closing in March

Back in April and early
March, many Cincinnatians were all :-P as they looked ahead to
another summer of fun in the sun at Mason’s longtime waterpark, The
Beach. But their faces were more like :-( on March 9, when The Beach
abruptly announced that it would not reopen for the 2012 season, and
many went >:-O when the waterpark notified them that no refunds
would be made for 2012 season passes. Today the waterpark’s
operators are all :‘( because they just got sued by the Ohio
attorney general.

At the time of the
announcement that the park would not be opening, The Beach had already sold
8,800 season passes. But rather than offering full refunds to the
thousands of consumers who had purchased waterpark passes, the Beach
offered a collection of day passes and various discounts to other local attractions,
such as Kings Island and the Cincinnati Zoo, that it said was valued at "close to $200." Season passes to The Beach had most recently been sold for $89.99.

In response, 427 people
filed complaints with the Ohio Attorney General’s office, resulting
in the May 25 filing of a lawsuit against The Beach by Attorney
General Mike DeWine. The lawsuit charges the business with failure to
deliver, a violation of Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act.

"It's unfortunate
when a long-standing Ohio business closes," DeWine said in a
press release. "But The Beach Waterpark took money from
thousands of consumers and never delivered promised services. That's
unacceptable."

The Beach in recent
years has seen increased competition from such nearby attractions as
Kings Island’s Soak City waterpark and the Great Wolf Lodge, which
opened an indoor waterpark in Mason in 2006.
In response to The Beach’s closing, Kings Island offered discounted
rates for upgrades to its season passes and a complimentary visit to
its amusement park and waterpark for Beach pass holders.

Dan Tierney, spokesman
for DeWine, says companies that go out of business often refund money
or provide a different product or service in place of that which was
previously purchased, but it must be of equal or greater value and
meet the consumer’s satisfaction.

“That has not
occurred in this case,” Tierney says.

The lawsuit alleges
that The Beach’s ownership partners have committed unfair or
deceptive acts and practices in violation of the Failure to Deliver
Rule and Consumer Sales Practices Act. Each violation of the Consumer
Sales and Practices Act is punishable by a $25,000 fine. The lawsuit
asks for reimbursements for all consumers, legal and court costs, an
injunction and civil penalties.

“There’s a possible
penalty on the punitive side of $25,000,” Tierney says. “That
being said, the goal of this, because there is no bankruptcy
protection, is to help affected consumers get refunds.”

According to Tierney,
if The Beach had filed bankruptcy protection, the company would be
protected and each individual consumer would need to file failure to
deliver lawsuits.

“During a bankruptcy
consumers can become creditors for not being delivered products,”
Tierney says. “In absence of that they would have to each
individually file failure to deliver lawsuits, but the attorney
general is doing it on behalf of Ohio consumers.”

The lawsuit was filed
in the Hamilton County Court of Common Please against the park’s
owners and operators: The Beach at Mason Limited Partnership and
Dayton-based Water Parks, Inc., and Cabana Equities, Inc.

According to the
lawsuit, the Beach’s operators decided to close the waterpark on
March 7, two days before announcing the canceled season and lack of
refunds.

The attorney general’s
office is encouraging other consumers who purchased passes to The
Beach Waterpark to file a complaint a www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Saturday laid out
five steps that he said would have America “roaring back” during his first campaign stop since formally accepting the
Republican nomination.

At Cincinnati's Union Terminal, Romney was joined on stage by his wife Anne, who spoke briefly, echoing her convention speech meant to humanize her husband.

He said his plan involved encouraging development in oil
and coal, implementing a trade policy that favored American companies
and not “cheaters” like China, making sure workers and students had
skills to succeed in the coming century, reducing the deficit and
encouraging small business growth.

About an hour after the Romney campaign event, Cincinnati
Democratic leaders held a news conference to rebut the Republican’s
speech.

“Much of his (Romney’s) speech was like his speech in
Tampa, which is where Romney gave Cincinnatians nothing more than vague
platitudes, false and misleading attacks without one single tangible
idea on how to move forward,” said Democratic/Charterite Cincinnati City
Councilwoman Yvette Simpson.

Simpson, along with Democratic Councilman Cecil Thomas and
Bishop Bobby Hilton, attacked the tax plan put forward by Romney and
his running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan. They said it would cut taxes
for the richest Americans while raising taxes on the middle class by
about $2,000 per household, citing an analysis from the nonpartisan Tax
Policy Center.

“Mitt Romney’s plan would take Ohio and Cincinnati backwards, and we don’t have time to go backwards,” Hilton said.

Hilton credited Cincinnati’s revitalization and urban development in part on federal money obtained from Obama’s stimulus plan.

“We deserve better than this. We deserve better than Romney/Ryan,” he said.

Romney would have disagreed with Hilton’s assessment of
Cincinnati’s growth. During his speech he praised Ohio Gov. John Kasich,
crediting him with bringing jobs and businesses to the state.

Romney also took time to attack President Barack Obama’s
record in office. The GOP nominee said in preparation for his convention
speech he read many past convention speeches — including Obama’s.

“He was not one of the ones that I wanted to draw from,
except I could not resist a couple of things he said, because he made a
lot of promises,” Romney said. “And I noted that he didn't keep a lot of
promises.”

Romney also criticized what he called the bitterness and
divisiveness of Obama’s campaign, saying as president he would bring the
country together. He mentioned the “patriotism and courage” of the late
Neil Armstrong, who was honored in a private service in Cincinnati on
Friday.

“I will do everything in my power to bring us together,
because, united, America built the strongest economy in the history of
the earth. United, we put Neil Armstrong on the moon. United, we faced
down unspeakable darkness,” Romney said.

“United, our men and women in uniform continue to defend
freedom today. I love those people who serve our great nation. This is a
time for us to come together as a nation.”

The candidate’s remarks ignited the crowd of thousands,
many of whom wore shirts with slogans like “Mr. President, I did build
my business,” in response to a remark made by Obama about businesses being helped to grow by government contracts and
infrastructure, and “Mitt 2012: At least he never ate dog meat,” referring to a passage in Obama’s 2008 memoir during which he recalls being
fed dog meat as a boy in Indonesia.

Steve Heckman, a 62-year-old environmental consultant from
Springfield, Ohio, said he voted for Obama in 2008 but will likely
vote for Romney in this election.

He said he’d written “some pretty ugly stuff” about Romney
in the past but felt jobs was the No. 1 issue and thought the Obama
administration’s policies were sending them out of the country.

“The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has, to me, become a little too almost like a fringe group, putting so much pressure
on businesses that they are moving to Canada,” Heckman said. “Things
like air permits, the EPA is taking too long to issue them. It’s not
just power plants they’re affecting, but all manufacturing.”

Heckman said he didn’t blame the president personally but thinks whoever he put in charge of the agency is being too strict.

“I grew up when the EPA was first put in place in the '70s, and they were, in my opinion, doing God’s work,” he said, citing
the cleaning up of rivers such as the Cuyahoga near Cleveland, which
famously caught fire because of pollution in 1969.

“I support the EPA, but it’s driving businesses out of here.”

Speaking ahead of Romney were U.S. House Speaker John
Boehner, Sen. Rob Portman, U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, Ohio treasurer and
GOP senatorial candidate Josh Mandel and Republican U.S. House candidate
for Ohio’s 2nd District, Brad Wenstrup.

“This election is all about changing Washington,” Mandel
said. “The only way to change Washington is to change the people we send
there.”